Kodagu Deputy Commissioner S.J. Somashekar said sincere efforts will be made to provide land to set up canteens, community halls, and hospitals for ex-servicemen in the district.
After listening to the grievances of ex-servicemen and their dependents at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Madikeri on Tuesday, Mr. Somashekar said land will be reserved on a priority basis for constructing community halls for ex-servicemen in Madikeri and Ponnampet.
After ex-serviceman Chengappa informed the Deputy Commissioner that many ex-servicemen are sustaining themselves by cultivating small plots near their villages, requesting the authorities to formalise ownership of this land, Mr. Somashekar stated that he would look into the possibility of converting the land, up to one or two acres, cultivated by the ex-servicemen into their names and issuing them a Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC). He assured that appropriate action would be taken in accordance with the rules.
A request would also be submitted to the government to relax the regulations regarding land allotment to ex-servicemen, he said.
When Mr. Chengappa brought to his notice that over 50% of ex-servicemen and their dependents do not own houses, the Deputy Commissioner said the issue of providing sites and houses to ex-servicemen will be examined and brought to the attention of the government.
“Discussions will also be held with concerned authorities to reserve sites for ex-servicemen in private layouts developed across the district,” Mr. Somashekar said.
Responding to a suggestion from the president of Kodagu District Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Major General (Retd.) B.A. Cariappa, the Deputy Commissioner, said ex-servicemen would henceforth be invited to the birth anniversary programmes of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimaiah.
In addition, to effectively address the grievances of ex-servicemen, he instructed that hearings take place at the taluk level in the presence of Assistant Commissioners, and that an ex-servicemen’s adalat be organised every two months by the respective Tahsildars.
The Deputy Commissioner also assured that individual land-related files would be examined in accordance with rules to ensure justice.
He directed officials to ensure that ex-servicemen visiting government offices be treated with dignity and respect.
Earlier, Mr. Cariappa, representing the District Ex-Servicemen’s Association, said ex-servicemen have served in high-altitude regions like Jammu and Kashmir and they must be provided at least basic facilities like hospitals and canteens, besides community halls.
An ex-serviceman shared a personal grievance and said his family members had denied him his rightful share of ancestral property during his service and requested the authorities to intervene so that he could receive his rightful share. Pointing out that he was currently eking out a living working as a security guard in Mysuru and Bengaluru, he appealed to the Deputy Commissioner to intervene.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / April 18th, 2026
